James Comey Indicted After Trump Calls for Prosecution of Former FBI Director

Published: September 26, 2025, 17:45 EDT

Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted on charges of lying to Congress and obstructing a congressional proceeding, according to court filings released Thursday. The indictment comes just days after former President Donald Trump publicly urged the Justice Department to prosecute Comey, a longtime critic and central figure in the Russia election interference investigation.

Details of the Indictment

The case was filed in the Eastern District of Virginia and accuses Comey of making false statements during testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 30, 2020. Prosecutors allege that Comey denied authorizing FBI officials to act as anonymous sources for media reports tied to a high-profile investigation, believed to be related to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

In addition, the indictment charges that Comey attempted to “influence, obstruct, and impede” a Senate inquiry. The filing does not revisit the substance of the Russia investigation but instead focuses on Comey’s conduct during congressional testimony.

Comey has denied wrongdoing. In a video statement released after the indictment, he said, “My heart is broken for the Department of Justice but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system, and I’m innocent. So let’s have a trial.”

Political Pressure on the Justice Department

The indictment follows a period of significant political pressure. Trump, in a social media post last weekend, criticized the Justice Department for failing to prosecute his opponents and urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to “serve justice now.” The post specifically mentioned Comey by name.

On Thursday, Trump celebrated the charges, calling the indictment “JUSTICE FOR AMERICA!” Attorney General Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, both political allies of Trump and outspoken critics of the Russia investigation, echoed that sentiment. Bondi added in a statement, “No one is above the law.”

The developments have fueled concerns among legal experts and political observers about the independence of the Justice Department. Critics argue that the timing of the case, filed just before the five-year statute of limitations expired, suggests political motivations.

Internal Turmoil in the Prosecutor’s Office

The case emerged amid upheaval inside the Eastern District of Virginia, the office that brought the indictment. Chief prosecutor Erik Siebert resigned last week after reportedly resisting pressure to pursue charges against other Trump critics, including New York Attorney General Letitia James.

Soon after, Trump nominated Lindsey Halligan—a White House aide and former personal attorney—to serve as U.S. Attorney for the district, despite her lack of prior federal prosecutorial experience. Halligan moved quickly to present the case against Comey to a grand jury.

Documents from within the office, however, revealed that some prosecutors expressed doubts about the strength and appropriateness of the indictment.

The Russia Investigation’s Lingering Impact

Comey has been a focal point of Trump’s grievances since 2017, when he was dismissed as FBI director. At the time, the bureau was investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and whether members of Trump’s campaign coordinated with Moscow.

A special counsel investigation led by Robert Mueller concluded in 2019 that Russia interfered in the election to benefit Trump. While the probe did not establish that Trump or his campaign criminally conspired with Russia, it found that his campaign welcomed Moscow’s assistance. Trump has repeatedly dismissed the investigation as a “hoax” and a “witch hunt.”

The indictment of Comey comes as the Trump administration continues efforts to reframe the Russia probe as a politically motivated campaign led by former President Barack Obama’s administration. Senior officials, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, have declassified documents aimed at questioning U.S. intelligence findings that Russia acted under the direction of President Vladimir Putin.

Strained Relationship Between Comey and Trump

Comey, appointed FBI director by Obama in 2013, clashed with Trump shortly after his inauguration. Their relationship soured further when Comey resisted Trump’s reported request during a private White House dinner to pledge personal loyalty. According to Comey’s notes, he also documented Trump’s request to end an FBI investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.

Comey’s subsequent firing in May 2017 became a central focus of Mueller’s investigation, which examined whether Trump attempted to obstruct justice. After leaving office, Comey authorized a friend to share portions of his memos with a journalist, a move that prompted Trump and his allies to brand him a “leaker.”

Previous Investigations Into Comey’s Conduct

This is not the first time Comey’s actions have been scrutinized. In 2019, the Justice Department declined to prosecute him following an inspector general review of how he handled memos documenting conversations with Trump. Special Counsel John Durham also chose not to bring charges against Comey after examining the FBI’s handling of the Russia investigation.

The new indictment breaks from those earlier decisions and marks the most serious legal action Comey has faced since leaving government service.

Family Fallout and Resignations

The indictment has also reverberated within Comey’s family. His daughter, Maurene Comey, was dismissed earlier this year from her position as a federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, a move she has challenged in court as politically motivated.

On the same day Comey was indicted, his son-in-law, Troy Edwards, resigned as a federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of Virginia. In his resignation letter, Edwards wrote that he was stepping down “to uphold my oath to the Constitution and the country.”

What Comes Next

The case against James Comey is expected to test the boundaries of political influence within the Justice Department. While his indictment is narrowly focused on alleged false statements, it is set against the broader backdrop of years of political disputes, investigations, and questions of accountability.

Comey has vowed to fight the charges in court, and the proceedings are likely to draw widespread attention both in the United States and internationally. The outcome will not only shape Comey’s legacy but also fuel ongoing debates about the rule of law, prosecutorial independence, and the lasting impact of the Russia investigation.